Hay isn’t the only farm protect that can get protected by tarps. Grain can, as well, according to an article published in the Tri-City Herald. Grain is typically stored in a silo or barn but, if your farm doesn’t have one of these or if the barn isn’t big enough, using a tarp to store the grain is an option for keeping your grain in good shape and protected from mold. As with hay, a tarp has been shown to protect the product better than a barn when stored for several months, as long as it’s applied properly.
What’s the secret for applying the tarps to these products? In both instances, the tarp needs to surround the product completely, so that water doesn’t touch it. This includes all angles – the top, sides, and bottom. Grain, on the other hand, isn’t stored in bales and, as mentioned in the article, requires some more manpower for getting the tarp across a large area of grain. The base of the pile of grain included a tarp and a larger tarp was applied on top of the mound. This tarp on top was then secured in place to protect the large formation of grain.
Another important factor as seen with hay tarps is the location. The purpose of storing grain either by tarps or in a barn is to protect it from moisture, water, and mildew so that the crop doesn’t rot. With hay tarps, the location of the tarped hay needed to be near drainage and the same applies for grain. Water should be able to roll down a drain or downhill away from the grain or hay formation, or else the water will collect near the base of the hay or grain formation. If you decide to store hay or grain outside, some kind of drainage or run-off point should be nearby.
